Firefighters made progress late Friday on a fast-moving fire that had burned homes, forced thousands to evacuate and closed a six-mile stretch of scenic Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials said that the 500-acre fire was 50-percent contained Friday evening. Cal Fire expected full containment Saturday. While 2,000 people had been evacuated earlier in the day, the improving situation resulted in Santa Cruz County closing its overnight evacuation center at 9 p.m., according to Chris Hirsch, a county spokeswoman.
Hirsch said residents who needed overnight housing were being sent to an evacuation center set up by the Red Cross. A number of homes were destroyed by the fast-moving blaze, but there was no indication how many. Hirsch said at least nine structures had burned.
“There are homes threatened, but we’re not exactly sure how many right now,” Hirsch said.
Battalion Chief Paul Van Gerwen, a Cal Fire spokesman, said helicopters were dropping water and fire retardant. About 600 firefighters had been called in to battle the blaze.
West Coast 911 firefighter news source – ktvu.com / read entire article
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